LARGS gym users say they have been kept in the dark over future changes at the Vikingar!

Fitness fanatic Hazel Hynd believes that there has been a lack of transparency regarding the future plans for the leisure complex, which she described as a 'jewel in the crown' of Largs.

A consultation into the future of Largs Library and whether it will transfer into the Vikingar! was completed at the end of September but no decision has been taken as yet.

Hazel, pictured centre with fellow users, told Largs Community Council that customers were also being kept out of the loop in relation to future plans amid fears it could compromise the future of the leisure facilities.

She said: "All we've been told is that there is a proposal to move the library to the Vikingar.

"Fitness classes have to be held in the gym next to the exercise and weight machines rather than in a separate room like the centre in Kilbirnie.

"The Vikingar is already well served with a theatre, swimming pool, sauna and the Viking Experience. We don't have masses of space at the gym to accommodate a library too. "People have been asking what kind of impact a move like that would have - and nobody seems to be able to give us an answer.

"It would be a loss to the community to close the current library and dissolve the town into one area at the Vikingar.zed i

"Additionally, and the key point, is that the gym is a hugely popular resource, particularly combined with the pool and sauna. It is a main attraction, a real jewel in the crown for Largs and merits expansion, not being slimmed down or squeezed into a smaller space.

"The area where gym classes are held is like a postage stamp, most people have bathrooms that are larger.

"It’s a real credit to the instructors that they can manage to run classes in such a tiny, confined space, but it means that other gym users are restricted and unable to use that area for a significant amount of time.

"The potential for growth may be snubbed out entirely by sandwiching in a library - to the long term detriment of both resources and all users.

"People are being kept completely in the dark and it seems this is a short sighted strategy, lacking adequate research and planning."

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said no decisions will be made on the proposals until the local authority knows what funding is available.

They said: “While we would like to be further forward in the process, we, along with all other councils, are still awaiting UK and Scottish Governments setting their budgets and advising councils of the budget for 20/21.

“Once this is finalised we will have a better idea of how we can move forward.

“We carried out the consultation exercise to understand the views of users, community groups and residents about which services are important to them. This was to inform a review of libraries and community centres given that the continued reductions to budgets has made the current model of provision financially unsustainable.

“We are currently collating and analysing that data so we have a variety of options for consideration as part of the budget setting exercise.”